Veteran Publications Honor Collin College

Dec. 15, 2017 – Three national military and veterans publications have honored Collin
College for its continued commitment to service members and their families. Each publication
looked at the college’s veteran- and military-related services and programs, with
focuses on outreach, tracking and assistance.

For the sixth year in a row, Collin College was named a Top School in the Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) Guide to Colleges and Universities. The college was included in the Military Times Best: Colleges 2018 rankings (formerly
Best for Vets) for the fourth consecutive year. The college district also earned the
distinction of being a Military Friendly® School by Victory Media for the third year
running. Each of these distinctions was announced in November.

While the specific criteria for recognition differs among the publications listed
above, each does its best to determine which academic institutions offer a supportive
environment for veterans, service members and their families. Factors include available
resources for veterans, accommodations and financial incentives for students with
military ties, rates of academic achievement and policies to improve academic outcomes
for service men and women.

Collin College serves more than 1,200 student veterans and their family members with
programming and services to ease their transition into college.

“The district provides a variety of resources and academic services for student veterans
to assist them in reaching their academic goals,” said Collin College Executive Vice
President Dr. Brenda Kihl. “Supporting our military service men and women in their
journey through academia is a priority at Collin College.”

The college recently opened Veterans Resource Centers at the Central Park and Preston
Ridge campuses and renovated its Spring Creek Campus VRC location. The centers offer
study and computer stations for veteran use, while also providing a chance to network
with others who have served. Veteran-centered workshops are held throughout the year
on topics including finances, résumé writing, interviewing and others.

An online component of the VRC provides student veterans with resources including
information on financial aid, Veterans Affairs education benefits, personal counseling
and membership in an active Student Veterans of America chapter. The resource page
offers a convenient portal for Collin College students to access external resources
and community partners. Learn more at www.collin.edu/studentresources/veteransresources.

Student veterans also benefit from courses tailored to meet their needs and interests.
These “military-friendly” courses allow students who have served to apply their knowledge
and experience in an academic setting, taught by professors who are aware of special
circumstances including impending deployment of students, individual ready reserve
status, Veterans Administration regulations and GI Bill education benefits.

Collin College serves more than 53,000 credit and continuing education students annually
and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates in a wide range of disciplines.
The only public college in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business,
government and industry, providing customized training and work force development. In
addition, the college operates the Collin Higher Education Center, which serves 3,200
additional students each year in partnership with the University of North Texas, The
University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Woman’s University, Texas A&M Commerce and Texas
Tech.